A Helping Hoofby kboomsChaptersChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter OneIt was market day in Ponyville, a day similar to any other. The sun shone gaily down on the residents bustling about their business. As usual, a particular pink Ponyville party pony pranced peppily as she perused pecks of pumpkins, pies and paraphernalia present in the pragmatic populous of potential possessions. But, as she peeked at a pair of perky parsnips, a peculiar protest perturbed her person! Twitchy tail. Eye flutter. Knee wobble. Grumbly tummy. Pinkie Pie could barely contain her gasp of joy as she realized somepony was going to fall in love with somepony else! (The cause of her grumbly tummy seemed to be the delicious smells of market.) She twisted her head around impossibly to see where the feeling emanated from. The Apple Stand. Her eyes widened as she watched Applejack chat amiably with Fluttershy, who, it seemed to Pinkie, was blushing slightly as she trotted away from the stand. It was simply too adorable. There was no more time to waste! “Hiya, Fluttershy!” Pinkie bounded up to her friend. “Whatcha doin’?” “Oh! Hello, Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy smiled at her friend. “I was just getting some apples for Angel.” “Anything else?” Pinkie leaned in close, willing her friend to spill the beans. “Um… no?” Fluttershy began to shrink back from the scrutiny. “No sudden feelings of… LOVE… or anything?” She grinned wide with anticipation. “Um… I… don’t think so?” “Are you suuuuuure?” Pinkie’s nose almost brushed against Fluttershy’s. “No. I mean yes! I just….” The yellow pegasus leaned away from the huge blue eyes boring into her soul. She let out a small, soft, high-pitched squeal. Pinkie squinted suspiciously at her friend, then smiled brightly. “Okie dokie lokie!” Fluttershy blinked in confusion, only to realize the earth pony had vanished. She looked around to see where her friend had gone, but couldn’t find any of the correct shades of pink in the bustling crowd. “I was trying to say… no new or sudden feelings,” the pegasus whispered to herself. “Just old ones.” She looked back briefly at the orange earth pony and heaved a tiny sigh. From her new lookout point, Pinkie Pie was grinning impossibly wide. She lowered her binoculars – that she was perhaps two pony-lengths away from her quarry didn’t matter. She’d heard Fluttershy’s confession, and that meant that she could put her plan into action. First, however, she would need to talk to Applejack. She rubbed her forehooves together in anticipation, a determined smirk upon her muzzle. Pinkie Pie often let her enthusiasm run away with her, but she also couldn’t bear to be impolite to other ponies. So she waited patiently in line to speak with Applejack, a few bits in her saddlebags for a small apple purchase. She could hardly contain her excitement as the pony in front of her finished his purchase, and had to interrupt the pleasant – and slow – goodbyes being exchanged. “Hi Applejack!” She beamed as she dropped her bits onto the wooden surface of the stall, pushing a protesting stallion to the side. “It’s a love-ly day, isn’t it?” “Sure is, Pinkie! What can Ah do ya for?” “Just a few Galas today.” Pinkie watched closely as the farmpony gathered the apples and placed them on the counter. She glanced around, glad to see that no others ponies were behind her in line or loitering around the stall. Conspiratorially, she leaned toward her friend, her foreleg resting near the apples she’d just purchased. “Anythin’ else Ah can do for you t’day, Pinkie?” “Actually, yes.” The party pony leaned in close. “I got a tail twitch earlier—“ “Twitchy tail?” Applejack’s eyes went wide, and she scrambled to get underneath the awning of her stall. She looked fearfully up at the sky, a hoof clasped to her hat. Pinkie couldn’t suppress her giggle. “Not that kind of twitch, silly! It was a combo!” Applejack relaxed at her words, curiosity replacing the fear on her face. “So what kinda twitch was it, then? Do we need t’ go save Fluttershy again?” She looked frantically around for the pegasus, missing the satisfied smirk on her friend’s face. “No, no – it was a good twitch! I sensed that two ponies near your Apple Stand were going to fall in love!” Applejack froze, then turned her head slowly back to the pony next to her. Pinkie noted the tiny bead of sweat beginning to form on her brow, just beneath her golden mane. “Uh, Ah don’ s’pose that’d necessarily include me! Heh, since y’know, there have been plenty o’ other ponies over here t’day.” She smiled, but her eyes still held a trace of fear. “It probably does, silly filly!” Pinkie Pie beamed. “Now, you can make it easy on all of us and tell me which pony it is or you can make me do it the hard way.” “Ah don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout, Pinkie.” Applejack shook her head firmly. “Ah ain’t been fallin’ for nopony t’day.” “Okie dokie,” she sang, sweeping her apples unceremoniously into her saddlebag. “Have it your way!” She turned and began bouncing toward Sugar Cube Corner. “See you later, Jackie!” Applejack breathed a sigh of relief, shook her head once more, then frowned menacingly at the queue of ponies that had just formed. “If’n any of y’all try callin me ‘Jackie,’ you’re gonna find out jus’ how mah trees feel during Applebuck Season!” “So let me be perfectly clear,” Rarity was saying, a look of skepticism on her face. “You are asking me to help you meddle in the lives of two very dear friends of ours, without their knowledge or permission, solely for the purpose of making them fall in love?” “But they’re already in love with each other!” Pinkie objected with a smile. “They just don’t know it yet!” “So you said.” “Then… yes! That’s exactly what I’m asking!” “Pinkie Pie,” Rarity said, all seriousness. “As much as I am in favor of romance and affairs of the heart, it is the worst kind of faux pas to meddle in other ponies’ lives!” “Well….” Pinkie raised a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “I guess I could always ask Twilight. Ooh! Or Rainbow Dash!” She giggled. “She is super close to Applejack, after all.” The fashionista let out an outraged gasp. “Pinkie! You cannot be serious! Rainbow Dash? Twilight?!” Her eyes widened as she realized she’d lost her point. She took a deep breath to compose herself. “Alright, you have forced my hoof. I will help you. But we must desist immediately if they ask it of us.” “Wahooo!!” The pink earth pony began bouncing around the small, chic table in Rarity’s dining area. “Just think how adorable it will all be! And all we need to do is get them to realize that they both love each other!” She couldn’t contain her giggles of delight. “I admit, they are practically perfect for one another,” Rarity mused. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she let out a rather un-ladylike squeal of excitement. “Oh! Just think of all the lovely matching outfits I could design for them! Their coloring works together so elegantly and their shared love of nature is perfect!” She dashed over to her work area, already beginning sketches. Pinkie watched in confusion. “Um, Rarity?” “…Yes, Pinkie?” “Shouldn’t we maybe get them to start dating first?” “Oh.” The sound of the creative process being shattered sounded much like disappointment. “Yes, of course. Did you have a plan?” “Do I!” Pinkie beamed. "It's a classic!" Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Go on, darling." “OK, first we have to go to them separately….” Chapter TwoThe sun was descending toward the horizon, already showing signs of the gorgeous sunset to come. The oranges and yellows swirling together in the sky caused the pink pony watching to grin devilishly. “Excellent,” she muttered to herself – even her moustache quivered with anticipation. “This ship will be sailing shortly.” Pinkie was on her way to find Fluttershy. Her duty was to bring her to the restaurant Rarity had chosen for dinner. She couldn’t pronounce the name of the place, but Rarity had told her where it was in town and that she’d take care of the reservation. Apparently it was perfect. Originally, Pinkie was going to go get Applejack, but she was fairly sure that her fellow earth pony would be suspicious from their earlier conversation. The thought of the farmpony reminded her to remove her fake moustache before crossing the small bridge in front of Fluttershy’s cottage, and she did so with a reluctant sigh. She bounced up to the small red door, knocked excitedly, and was unable to stay still during the wait. When the timid pegasus opened the door, the pink mare pounced. “Fluttershy!” She grabbed her friend’s forehoof. “Do you wanna come to dinner?” “Um, well, I was just about to curl up and read a—” “But you have to come!” Pinkie Pie pleaded. “It’s just won’t be the same if you don’t go!” “Oh!" Fluttershy’s eyes had gone wide at the party pony’s desperation. “Well... in that case... I’d hate to make anypony upset.” “Good.” The pink mare beamed. “Come with me!” Fluttershy trotted after her friend. They’d made it past the bridge before she spoke up. “So, um… Pinkie Pie?” She fidgeted with a hoof. “Where exactly are we going to dinner? And who will be there? I don’t know if I can handle a large crowd of ponies tonight….” “Don’t you worry, Fluttershy!” Pinkie patted her friend’s mane. “It’s just a few of us – your best friends! You’ll love it!” “But…” Pinkie Pie’s face was deadly serious when she turned to face the pegasus again. “Seriously. Don’t make me try to say the name. It won’t be pretty.” “Aren’t you going to brush your mane?” Rarity asked, weariness in her voice. She’d spent the better part of 30 minutes convincing Applejack that she needn’t have every single meal with her family. “Ah never brush mah mane when Ah hang out with you gals. Why should t’night be any diff’rent?” The orange mare raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Ain’t like Ah’m goin’ on a date or anythin’.” Rarity tittered humorlessly. “Of course not.” “So Ah don’ see why it’s necessary.” “Well at least wash the dirt off your face and hooves.” The unicorn huffed. “Ah’m gonna be walkin’ through dirt t’ get there.” Applejack drawled. “Might as well do it when Ah get there.” “Fine.” Rarity was losing patience anyway. Let her ruin her own date night. “Shall we?” “Ah reckon so.” The pair trotted in silence for several minutes. Rarity had finished fuming and was wracking her brain for ways to help Applejack be presentable without making her upset. Her eyes glinted as she came up with a plan. When they were only a few minutes to the restaurant, Applejack spoke up. “Rarity, Ah can feel what you’re doin’.” “Whatever do you mean, Applejack?” Rarity feigned innocence. “I’m not doing a thing but taking you to the restaurant where we’re meeting everypony.” The farmpony gave her a look of weariness. “Oh, so mah mane an’ tail untangled an’ braided themselves, huh?” Rarity glared at her friend. “I’m just trying to help!” She ran a critical eye over her handiwork. “And, frankly, you look quite nice now.” Applejack simply rolled her eyes. “So where exac’ly are we goin’, anyhow?” “A lovely little place called ‘Le Fer à Cheval,’ which is just around this corner.” Rarity eyed the farmpony. “Do try to enjoy yourself.” The orange mare had gone still after hearing the name. She turned wide eyes to the unicorn beside her. “A fancy Prench restaurant? What in tarnation is goin’ on here, Rarity?” “Well,” the fashionista huffed. “Some ponies like to be civilised every so often.” Her eyes sparkled as she gazed upon the entrance. “Here we are!” Pinkie Pie was bouncing near the door, giggling at the fancy hosts and the serious looks on the servers’ faces. Next to her, Fluttershy looked quite like she’d collapse in on herself if made to walk another step with the outrageous pink party planner. The pegasus’ face lit up when she saw her other two friends approaching. “Oh, thank goodness you came,” she breathed. “We were worried that nopony else would show up.” “Very good,” the host interrupted. “Mademoiselle Rarity, party of two?” “Party of two?” Applejack echoed bemusedly. “Oh dear, the reservations must have gotten confused.” Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. “You two go on and enjoy yourselves. Pinkie and I must start preparations for the party later, anyway.” “P-party?” Fluttershy gasped. “Yup!” Pinkie replied. “You have to come over to Sugar Cube Corner afterwards!” Applejack surveyed the two grinning ponies in front of her with narrowed eyes full of skepticism. “Uh-huh.” “Excusez-moi, mademoiselles, but the table?” The host gestured toward a small table near some panoramic windows, which featured a breath-taking view of the now setting sun. “Shame t’ waste a table on a misunderstandin’.” The farmpony looked over at Fluttershy and shrugged. “Ah guess it’s jus’ you an’ me, sugarcube.” Fluttershy glanced at her other two friends. “I-if you’re sure. I mean, somepony can have my spot….” “Don’t be silly, Fluttershy!” Pinkie crowed. “You go have fun!” The farmpony and the pegasus cast doubtful looks at their friends before turning and walking over to their table. Before the host could follow with the menus, Rarity waved him over briefly. “Send the tab to me, Théo.” She said briskly, smiling her thanks. “As you wish, mon amie.” He bowed his head and swiftly made his way over to the table. Rarity and Pinkie Pie trotted away from the restaurant. They made it a couple buildings down before excitedly congratulating themselves. “We did it!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “Now they’ll have to tell each other that they’re in love and then we can celebrate it when they come to the party later!” “Indeed, Pinkie.” Rarity smiled at her friend. “I think we have done well. This restaurant is perfect—” A light blue blur flashed by, and a strong wind pulled at the two conversing ponies. A resounding crash nearby confirmed Rainbow Dash’s presence. “Hey guys!” The pegasus’ greeting floated up from a shallow groove in the ground. “Dashie!” Pinkie bounced over to the mass of rainbow-colored mane and tangled blue limbs. “Do you wanna help us set up a party?” “A party?” Rainbow queried, shaking the dirt out of her mane. “For what?” “Applejack and Fluttershy falling in love, of course!” Pinkie’s grin deepened. The blue pegasus raised an eyebrow, her smile fading. “What?” “We just got them to a fancy dinner together and, with any luck, they shall share their feelings with one another and end up happily together.” Rarity nearly swooned with the romance of it all. “Wait. You took Applejack to a fancy restaurant?” She glanced at the sign a few buildings down, her eyebrows rocketing up at the sight. “A fancy Prench restaurant?” “Why… yes!” Rarity cocked her head. “Did you fall too hard this time?” “Ooh! Dashie! How many hooves am I holding up?” Pinkie bounced around, flailing her forehooves in the air. Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes before fixing Rarity with a scowl. “You know she hates that stuff, right?” “Nopony hates—” Rarity began with an impatient sigh. “No,” the pegasus interjected. “She hates it.” She rubbed a forehoof against her forehead. “Why exactly are you doing this, anyway?” “Ooh, ooh, I know!” Pinkie stopped flailing and came to a stop in front of her friends. “I got a love combo at market today! And it was totally those two who set it off!” “I see.” Rainbow Dash sighed deeply. “So who’s gonna keep watch to make sure Applejack doesn’t bail?” The two co-conspirators looked at one another thoughtfully. Simultaneously, they both turned their gaze to the pegasus, still lying on the ground at their hooves. They grinned. Rainbow Dash was nonplussed. “Aaaand this is how I get myself roped into these kinds of things.” "We appreciate your help ever so much, darling." Rarity smiled dazzlingly as she gave her friend's multi-colored mane a soft pat. "Why am I so bucking loyal?" the pegasus hissed under her breath, watching her friends trot away merrily. "See you at the partyyyyy!" Pinkie Pie called back to her cheerily. Chapter ThreeApplejack felt like she must have entered a sauna with all the difficulty she was having breathing inside the restaurant. She sat herself as inconspicuously as possible at the elegantly furnished table. The linens themselves must’ve cost at least as much as the plow at the farm, and the china? She didn’t want to think about it. She smiled nervously over at Fluttershy, who briefly made eye contact over the menu she was holding. The farmpony looked down at her own menu. It may as well have been written in gibberish – she couldn’t understand any of it. She cursed Rarity for bringing her here. Her brow knit into a small frown. That mare had definitely been up to something, even if she couldn’t put her hoof on it. At least she was here with Fluttershy…. Just thinking the name of the pegasus across from her made her stomach do flips. This whole thing couldn’t be because of that chat with Pinkie Pie at market this morning, could it? The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She shook her head in consternation. There was no way Fluttershy could ever return her feelings. As she was also out of her realm of expertise – consarned fancy dining – she resolved to stay silent on the matter and just survive through dinner. Maybe her openness to trying new things would be endearing to her dinner partner. “Sure is a nice sunset t’night,” she offered in an effort to leave her troubling thoughts behind. “Oh, isn’t it lovely?” Fluttershy was glowing, and not just from the sun. She seemed to thrive in this environment, Applejack’s dejection deepening with the realization. “I’ve never eaten here, but it’s just so… nice.” “That it is.” Applejack laughed nervously, her eyes scanning the page for some words that made sense – anything in Modern Equestrian instead of Prench. “Are you ladies ready to order?” Applejack jumped at the sound of the waiter’s voice. “I am,” Fluttershy said quietly, looking expectantly at her friend. “Shoot, sugarcube.” The pegasus cleared her throat delicately. “I’ll have the Niçoise Salad to start, and then the Parsnip Remoulade, s’il vous plait.” “Your Prench is impeccable, mademoiselle,” the waiter said reverently. “And for you?” He glanced at Applejack, barely concealing his sneer. “Ah, uh… Ah’ll have what she’s havin’,” she said weakly, wondering why she’d ever thought dining out would be a reasonable idea. “Very well.” He sniffed. “Is there anything else I can get for you while you wait?” “Non, merci,” Fluttershy said demurely. The waiter nodded to the pegasus and left the table, eyeing Applejack once more. The farmpony heaved a sigh of relief once he’d left. So far, so good. After all, there was a very slim chance of this dinner being anything like that one time with Pa…. She shook her head slightly to rid herself of the unhappy thought and quash her skittishness, then focused her attention on the beautiful mare looking at her inquisitively. Fluttershy was watching Applejack while they’d ordered and continued to do so as they waited for their food. The silence was not awkward – not for two ponies who enjoyed its solitude as much as they. She was disquieted, however, by the nervousness displayed by her friend. She had never seen the strong, confident earth pony so out of sorts. The orange mare was looking around frantically, as if there was an escape route just out of sight, and her hooves were constantly moving – to adjust her hat, then tap the table, then rearrange her plate, and so on. Fluttershy hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable by speaking Prench. The pegasus wracked her brain for ways to help Applejack feel more at ease. Perhaps conversation was warranted, especially considering the circumstances. Pinkie had been acting rather odd…. “So, um, Applejack?” “Yeah, sugarcube?” Fluttershy barely contained a happy sigh as she felt warmth spread through her at the endearment, even though she knew the farmpony used it all the time for everypony. She just liked to imagine that she was… special. “Um,” she began, trying to hide the beginnings of a blush. “Did it seem odd to you – the way Pinkie and Rarity were acting?” Applejack snorted, not noticing the glares from other patrons of the restaurant. “’Course it did.” “I wonder why they brought us here,” Fluttershy mused. “It’s like they planned it so we’d have to have dinner here together.” She looked up to see a small flush on the farmpony’s cheeks at her comment, but didn’t dare ask about the cause. “Well mah best guess it that it had t’ do with a conversation Ah had with Pinkie at market t’day.” Her cheeks became a deeper shade of pink. “Oh?” Fluttershy inquired. “Come to think of it, Pinkie talked to me this morning, too.” She frowned slightly. “She was just asking about whether I’d had sudden feelings of love….” “Was she now?” Applejack looked thoughtful. “She told me her tail’d been a-twitchin’ and a couple o’ ponies were gonna fall in love with each other. Then she got all mad at me for not tellin’ her who Ah’d fallen for.” She shook her head in amusement, finally smiling fully. Fluttershy’s interest was piqued. She could finally find out whether Applejack might possibly even consider…. The pegasus took a deep breath to prepare herself. “And did you? F-fall in love with anypony today, I mean.” she managed to squeak out. The farmpony blushed. “Honestly? No.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Ah jus’ realized Ah keep fallin’ deeper an’ harder for a pony Ah’ve been sweet on for quite some time. Happens every single time Ah talk t’ her.” Her heart soared to hear the pronoun at the end of Applejack’s confession. And she’d talked with her earlier today, too! “Excuse me, ladies,” a sophisticated looking stallion interrupted them. “I’m from table four, and I came over to ask you to kindly cease this uncouth behaviour.” “Um, ‘uncouth behaviour?’” Fluttershy asked. “Oh, not you, madam,” he simpered. His eyes turned to bore into Applejack. “Talk of falling in love with other mares? Snorting so loudly that everypony can hear you? That appalling accent? Were you raised in a barn?” His steely grey eyes darted up to her cowpony hat and trailed down the braid Fluttershy had seen her wear only once before. “Ah. Apparently so,” he sniffed. The farmpony had sunk so low in her seat that her chin nearly rested upon the table. Her entire face had become as red as the apples on her flank, and tears stood out in her beautiful green eyes. “Um, sir?” Fluttershy felt a sort of rage building up inside of her at the sight of her friend’s distress. “If you have a problem with any of that, I’m afraid you’ll have to take it up with me, too. This pony happens to be a very dear friend of mine and what kind of ponies she does or does not like does not concern you. The farm she works on provides nearly all of the produce for that dinner you’re eating, as well! If you don’t like the way she acts, you’re free to leave this establishment and I will not stand by and watch you demean her!” The pegasus suddenly noticed her voice had gotten louder and louder, and that she was now breathing heavily. She stood belligerently, her hooves spread in a wide stance and a fierce glare upon her face. In addition, everypony in the restaurant was now looking at her. She calmed herself with a couple deep breaths. “Now, please leave our table and go ruin your own dinner.” The stallion, now speechless and taken quite aback, nodded dumbly and trotted back to his seat with eyes wide as the goodly-sized torte waiting next to a mare who must’ve been his wife. Fluttershy smiled to herself in satisfaction and sat back down in her chair, keeping an eye on the rude stallion to make sure he kept his distance. “So, what were you just saying, Applejack?” Her ear twitched when the expected response did not come. “Applejack?” She turned to look at her friend, then gasped quietly. The chair across the table was empty. Chapter FourApplejack had slipped out of that stifling restaurant as soon as Fluttershy had turned her attention to that snobby stallion. She’d trotted as quickly and quietly as possible, feeling more and more unworthy of the pegasus’ attention than ever as she listened to her tirade. She hung around the door nonetheless, loathe to leave her friend behind. “Stupid, stupid, stupid…” she muttered under her breath. Her hooves hit the ground with extra force as she paced around in the empty road, nervously eyeing the entrance to the restaurant. “Hey, Applejack,” a familiar voice sounded from behind her. “Didn’t think I’d ever see you run from something so easily.” The farmpony snorted as she turned to face the pegasus looking at her with a challenge in her eyes. “Oh really?” she drawled. “An’ what exac’ly is it Ah’m runnin’ from?” “You know as well as I do what it is.” Rainbow Dash gave her a flat look. “You’ve had a crush on Fluttershy for pretty much forever.” Applejack glared at her friend. “Yeah, an’ what of it?” “What, you’re just gonna leave her in there?” Rainbow pointed a hoof toward the table where the lone pegasus was seated, looking glumly out the window. “All alone?” The orange mare felt a rush of guilt as she looked upon the silhouette of her dinner partner, framed perfectly by clouds colored by the setting sun. She felt each beat of her heart more keenly than ever before. “Ah don’ know how Ah can go back after that display,” she whispered. “Now everypony must think Ah’m jus’ a cowardly, simple farmer.” “Since when do you care what anypony else thinks?” The pegasus next to her snorted in derision and continued with a smirk, “You’re nearly as tough, brave and loyal as I am!” Applejack’s ears folded back, her features displaying an emotion caught somewhere between sorrow and anger. When she replied, her voice grated like a plow through a rocky field. “Why’re you even here?” Rainbow Dash smiled as innocently as a filly with a hoof in the cookie jar. She gave a strangled laugh. “Just gotta make sure everypony’s remembering to be loyal to everypony else…” The farmpony eyed her friend, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. “You really think that’s gonna fool th’ Element of Honesty?” “Fine.” The blue pegasus crossed her forelegs in front of her chest. “I’m here to make sure you don’t bail on Fluttershy ‘cause I know how much you hate going to places like this.” She waved a hoof at the ornate sign. Applejack regarded her friend silently for a moment. “So you’re in cahoots with Rarity an’ Pinkie Pie? Tryin’ t’ get me ‘n Fluttershy t’ be the next new, happy couple?” “Well… I don’t know about that.” Rainbow fidgeted with a hoof. “I just don’t think she deserves to be bailed on by her date!” “Uh-huh,” the farmpony uttered for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. “An’ did anypony stop t’ think that she deserves way better?” “What are you—” “She loves this place, Rainbow!” Applejack gestured angrily toward the door. “She speaks Prench better’n the ambassador of Prance, an’ is right at home in there!” She steadied herself with a breath. “An’ Ah… Ah’m jus’ a simple pony who cain’t touch that tablecloth without feelin’ like Ah’m destroyin’ it.” She hung her head. “So… what?” Rainbow Dash didn’t sound convinced. “You’re just going to give up?” She scratched her head with a hoof. “What did you do with my best friend?” Applejack sighed. “Nothin’. But Ah still don’t know how Ah can go back in there.” The blue mare made a strangled sound of frustration and threw her forehooves into the air. “I’ll tell you how.” She shoved her friend toward the door. “You put one hoof in front of the other! You heard her defending you just as well as I did. Obviously she thinks you’re great.” She grunted as she met with stubborn earth pony resistance, then gasped in exasperation. “She doesn’t do that for just anypony, you know!” The farmpony stood stock still, then turned wide eyes toward her friend. “You really think Ah have a chance with her?” “Not if you don’t get in there!” Rainbow rolled her eyes, then smiled triumphantly as the orange mare trotted back inside with a look of determination. Fluttershy sighed quietly. It had been a good while since Applejack had disappeared, and she was currently fretting about how awful her friend must feel after that mean stallion had come over here! She gazed out the window, hoping that the farmpony wasn’t too upset. Her ear swiveled at the small scratching sound of a chair being pulled back from the table and turned to see Applejack re-seating herself across the table. Try as she might, Fluttershy just couldn’t keep the smile from her muzzle at the sight. “Heh, sorry sugarcube,” the farmpony muttered. “Jus’ had t’ get mahself a breath of fresh air.” “Oh, not at all!” She looked over to size up the level of her friend’s distress. “I was worried that rude stallion made you leave completely!” Applejack’s face flushed red once more. “T’ be honest, Ah almost did. And… it wasn’t jus’ him.” She raised her eyes to meet Fluttershy’s. “But Ah couldn’t bring mahself t’ leave you here all on your own” The pegasus frowned with concern. “Um… if you don’t mind me asking, what else made you want to leave?” The apple farmer sighed quietly, her eyes focused now on the fancy water glasses in the middle of the table. Her voice was soft and rough when she finally spoke. “A while back, when mah Ma an’ Pa were still here, we used t’ go out an’ eat at restaurants ev’ry blue moon or so.” She ran a hoof over the elegant tablecloth. “Ah remember clear as day th’ las’ time Ah ever ate out with mah Pa. It was jus’ th’ two of us – Ma had jus’ gone back t’ Manehattan, never t’ return. We were at a restaurant nearly as fancy as this one.” “What happened?” Fluttershy asked, wide-eyed. Applejack gave her a weak smile. “Ah didn’t know mah Pa had started drinkin’ early in th’ day. He started talkin’ a mite too loud an’ a mite too crass. Another customer complained an’ we got kicked out afore we could eat anythin’.” Her green eyes were now wavering with emotion. “Ah’ll never forget what that pony said t’ me an’ Pa – how we didn’t deserve t’ eat their fancy food, how Ah’d never grow up t’ be anypony special, an’ how Ah’d end up jus’ as useless as he did.” She looked back down at the tablecloth. “Ah ain’t been to a place like this since then.” Fluttershy’s hooves had risen to her muzzle in disbelief, her eyes even wider than before. “B-but… you’re the best pony in Equestria!” “Ah’ve been workin’ awful hard t’ prove that pony wrong, that’s for sure.” The farmpony chuckled quietly. “Goin’ t’ Manehattan for mah Cutie Mark was a part o’ that, but Ah’m sure you noticed that didn’t work too well.” The yellow pegasus frowned and shook her head. “Applejack, you don’t need to measure up to other ponies’ expectations to be special – at least, that’s what my mother always told me.” She looked up, her eyes half-hidden behind her mane, her cheeks turning pink. “I think you’re very special.” “A-hem.” Their server cleared his throat for their attention. Once their eyes were trained sheepishly upon him, he gestured to the tray of food beside him. “Your dinner, mademoiselles,” he said tonelessly. Chapter Five“So you really liked it?” “’S not like Ah eat apples an’ nothin’ but apples,” Applejack quipped with a wink. “Oh, of course, I just… wanted to make sure.” Fluttershy blushed slightly. The farmpony chuckled softly in response as they walked slowly out the door of the restaurant. It had been a nice surprise that they’d not had to pay for their food, courtesy of the waiter. She felt more at ease than she ever would have imagined following such a dinner. “Applejack?” “Yeah, sugarcube?” “Um… should we go to Sugar Cube Corner now?” Fluttershy looked nervously down the path that would take them to said bakery. “Pinkie seemed so insistent….” The orange mare thought for a moment, a hoof tapping her muzzle. Suddenly, a mischievous idea took root in her mind. She eyed her friend, a slow smirk spreading across her face and a glint in her eyes. “Ah reckon,” she drawled slowly. “That this is our date night, an’ we can do whatever we want t’ do.” “Our… d-d-date night?” Fluttershy gasped in astonishment, her wings spreading open to point at the first few stars gracing Princess Luna’s night. “Well… yeah!” Applejack looked over at her friend as she began trotting in a different direction from the bakery, their friends, and the party. The pegasus followed her without question, likely overloaded from shock at the d-word. “B-but, um… it… wasn’t really a date.” “Don’cha think that’s what Rarity an’ Pinkie were tryin’ t’ do?” The farmpony nearly lost her footing as she realized she couldn’t stop the next words from escaping her mouth. “An’ Ah reckon Ah ain’t had a nicer date than this’n.” Her friend turned to her with wide eyes. “Really?” she breathed. “Darn tootin’!” She blushed suddenly and glanced to the side. “’Course, Ah ain’t ever been on a date in the firs’ place so, might be that ain’t such high praise after all.” “Oh, I’ve never been on a date either.” Fluttershy smiled shyly. “And I think it was just… lovely.” “No kiddin’?” Applejack raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Shucks, Ah’d’ve thought plenty o’ stallions an’ mares alike woulda asked you by now.” “Well,” the pegasus’ blush deepened. “They’ve asked….” “Jus’ not your type, huh?” The farmpony nodded knowingly. “Oh, they were all nice ponies,” she protested. “I just… I’ve had a crush on a certain pony for so long now, and I just couldn’t do that to a pony I didn’t really feel something for….” “Same here,” Applejack affirmed. She then frowned. Maybe Pinkie had been onto something. There was only one way to find out. She braced herself and took a deep breath. “Fluttershy?” “Yes?” Those gorgeous eyes locked onto hers, shimmering in the leftover rays of the sun now resting just below the horizon. “Follow me.” She turned away abruptly and began galloping toward her destination at a pace she imagined her friend would be able to keep. A surprised Fluttershy quickly charged down the path after her. On a nearby rooftop, a blue pegasus stretched and gave a huge yawn. Her magenta eyes opened blearily as she recalled her task, ears twitching at the sound of rapid hoofbeats. Her gaze locked onto the two ponies fleeing the scene and she immediately sprung to her hooves. “Oh, ponyfeathers,” she cursed under her breath. Twilight Sparkle surveyed two of her very close friends with skepticism. The all-too-innocent smiles on their faces didn’t sit well with her, and her wings rustled against her back in irritation. “You did what?” she said flatly. Raising her voice was not yet required, nor was it truly necessary. They knew very well how she felt about the matter, even in the scant minutes since she’d arrived at the hastily prepared “party.” “Come now, Twilight,” Rarity simpered. “It’s not as if it will cause any harm.” “Also!” Pinkie Pie butted in, her face mere centimeters from the purple unicorn’s. “They’re already in love!” “Pinkie, you know I believe in your Pinkie Sense,” Twilight began, stepping back from the too-wide smile of her friend and forcing herself not to roll her eyes. “But for something as nebulous and unpredictable as love? This just feels like meddling.” Pinkie made a stricken, offended noise. “Of course my Pinkie Sense can sense love!” She frowned in disapproval. “Tsk, tsk, Twillight – I thought I taught you better!” “This is hardly meddling, Twilight,” Rarity sniffed haughtily. “I mean, it’s not as if we’re spying on them to make sure everything goes as planned—” Suddenly, the front door slammed open, revealing a stricken Rainbow Dash. The pegasus paid the door no heed as it swung back and forth from the blow, and landed quickly and neatly in front of her friends. “Rarity,” she gave the unicorn a mildly panicked look. “We have a problem.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Not spying, huh?” The white mare at least had the decency to blush as she began questioning Rainbow Dash. “Please,” Fluttershy wheezed as they started up a large hill somewhere on Sweet Apple Acres. “Are we… almost there? Or could we… just… trot?” Applejack responded by slowing her pace to a walk and giving her friend a gentle smile. “Sorry, sugarcube. Ah do tend t’ forget that Ah run faster’n most ponies.” She gave the pegasus a reassuring nudge with a shoulder as they crested the hill. “An’, yes. We’re here.” “Oh… good!” Fluttershy gasped, flopping unceremoniously – and yet extraordinarily gracefully – onto the lush, green grass. The pegasus heard a light chuckle from the pony behind her, which warmed her entire being for the second time that night. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of the grass and the very slight, cool breeze from the northwest. Though she would never say so to anypony, this was far better than any party Pinkie could throw in her honor. Applejack’s words from earlier echoed through her head. Don’cha think that’s what Rarity an’ Pinkie were tryin’ t’ do? Unbidden, her memory brought forth all the shared moments, the meaningful looks, the comfort and safety that radiated from the farm mare that she’d always sought out. A rustle of grass off to her left distracted her, and she opened her eyes reluctantly. “This here’s the best hill on the Acres t’ watch th’ stars come out,” Applejack said softly, lowering herself onto the grass next to her friend. “Ah figured we could watch th’ first couple hundred or so, then mosey on over t’ Sugar Cube Corner so we don’ disappoint Pinkie too much.” She winked conspiratorially. “A bit o’ quiet time between events never hurt anypony.” Fluttershy could hardly breathe. It was as if the farmpony had known, somehow, that she’d needed extra time before the party. “Applejack,” she breathed. “It’s so nice… and so… perfect.” She let out a contented sigh. Without thinking, she slid a bit closer to her friend and gently rested her head on the strong shoulder situated at the perfect height. Every thought had so completely vanished from her mind, she wasn’t even embarrassed to whisper to her friend: “I love you.” Chapter SixThe ringing in her ears had yet to disappear, as had the dizzy, lightheaded feeling Applejack had experienced when Fluttershy whispered those three words into the fur of her shoulder. She shook her head slightly in an attempt to regain her senses. Sure, she had guessed her friend might feel this way about her… but hadn’t been able to convince herself fully. Perhaps too soon, she attempted to respond with words. “Uh… Ah, uh…” Her ear twitched nervously. “You did just say… uh… what Ah thought you did?” “Hmmm?” The pegasus lifted her head slightly, her eyes halfway closed, and a serene look on her face. As the earth pony’s gaze met her friend’s, the dizziness and ringing faded away – though her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest. In those gorgeous, shimmering eyes, she could see trust, respect and, yes, the love she had just professed. Applejack took a deep breath to steady herself. “Ah love you too, sugarcube,” she breathed, nuzzling her friend gently. She felt the pegasus freeze as she flinched away slightly, eyes wide. Fluttershy’s breathing had become erratic, and a hoof had flown to her mouth in surprise. “I… d-did I… say that out loud?” she squeaked. The farmpony let out a quiet chuckle as she felt herself relax, a languid smile spreading across her muzzle. “That you did, sugarcube.” She nudged her friend playfully. “An’ don’t try t’ tell me you didn’t mean it, neither. Can’t fool this Element o’ Harmony!” “B-but… you… aren’t mad?” she queried in wonder. Her reply was a snort accompanied by the squeeze of a foreleg around the pegasus’ middle. “’Course Ah ain’t mad!” Applejack removed her leg from Fluttershy’s back, considerately trying to avoid mussing her wings. “Ah gotta be honest with you, sugarcube. Ah took a likin’ t’ you way back when we were trekkin’ up that mountain t’ get that dragon t’ stop snorin’ smoke everyplace.” The pegasus’ hoof had made its way back to the ground, and her face had morphed from an expression of terror and shock to one of astonished disbelief. “Oh my goodness,” she murmured, a very sight frown on her face. “That was ages ago!” “Yeah…” The farmpony scratched the back of her neck bashfully. “Guess Ah never felt quite right about comin’ out with it – ‘specially if you liked stallions or somethin’. Never thought you’d feel th’ same way ‘bout boring ol’ AJ.” “Boring?” Fluttershy’s frown was very nearly a scowl – the cutest scowl the farmpony had ever seen, but a scowl nonetheless. A yellow hoof touched her face, gently guiding it so that she was looking at her friend instead of the ground. “Applejack, you are the bravest, strongest, and most heroic pony in all of Equestria!” She dropped her hoof from where it had been supporting Applejack’s jaw. “I mean, I’ve seen every single Element of Harmony in your words and actions! You… you’re… amazing,” she finished with a sigh. “Shucks, sugarcube.” The orange mare was now blushing furiously. “Ah’m plumb speechless now.” Fluttershy smiled up at her friend, drew her face close and murmured, “Then don’t talk.” She then delivered the softest, sweetest kiss Applejack imagined anypony anywhere had ever experienced. Through the searing, happy blaze that consumed her entire being, the farmpony felt herself smile. “Talking ain’t ever been so overrated,” she heard herself say hoarsely before kissing the beautiful pegasus again. “I see them!” Rainbow called from a few groves ahead of the rest of the group. “Follow me!” “Why are we sneaking up on them?” Twilight grumbled breathlessly, trying her best to keep up with the energetic athlete, a sugar-high ball of pink fur and the fashionista spurred on by the sheer romantic possibilities. It seemed nopony had heard her, because the mad dash to find the missing Elements continued. Until she ran face-first into Rarity’s flank. “Ugh!” the purple unicorn huffed. “What now?” Her jaw dropped as her eyes took in the two missing ponies, obliviously enjoying much more than just each other’s company, against a navy backdrop with ever-increasing numbers of winking stars. The princess felt a vibration next to her, which jolted her senses just in time to cast a spell. Rarity’s smirk dimmed only very slightly as she watched Pinkie Pie, encased in a sound-proof magenta sphere, jumping, twirling, pointing, and seemingly shouting with joy at the top of her lungs. “You’re quite efficient with those spells of yours, darling,” she mused to her friend, with a quick glance at the happy couple a half dozen metres away. “Which is likely for the best.” “I can’t believe this actually worked,” Rainbow muttered, just loudly enough for the others to hear. “Tut tut, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said with a flip of her mane. “Did you truly doubt the expertise of Pinkie’s tail and myself?” The blue pegasus rolled her eyes. “Yeah… let’s remember who kept Applejack from bailing from that prissy restaurant in the first place.” The white unicorn made an offended noise, but chose not to respond. “Um, girls?” Twilight interjected, eyes widening by the minute. “Do you suppose we should maybe give them some space?” The two bickering ponies looked up and, upon glancing over, immediately agreed and began trotting quietly and quickly away from the scene. Pinkie Pie bounced around Sugar Cube Corner, surveying the state of the party she’d prepared to honor the extra adorable new love of Applejack and Fluttershy. She glanced happily at the colorful banner she’d hung above the food and beverage table that read “WE LOVE YOU AND YOUR LOVE, APPLESHY!” The two guests of honor had eventually shown up, as they’d learned was their plan from the start. Surprisingly, they were completely unsurprised at the subject of the party. Pinkie shrugged as she approached Rainbow Dash with a cup of punch. “Want a drink, Dashie?” “Sure, Pinks,” the pegasus said with a smile. “But I think I might have to hit the hay soon. Big day of busting clouds tomorrow.” “Aww, well thanks for helping us today!” Pinkie smiled as she turned to observe the rest of her friends. Rarity and Fluttershy were quietly conversing at a table together, drinks near at hoof. The pegasus seemed to be blushing profusely – likely because Rarity wanted to hear every single detail of her evening. Pinkie giggled as she imagined what it must sound like. She looked around for her other two guests, who were talking about less in-depth matters at hoof. The party pony trotted inconspicuously closer, just so that she might hear their words. “…wasn’t too much?” Twillight was asking. “Nah,” Applejack replied. “Ah mean, Ah wasn’t exac’ly expectin’ mah evenin’ t’ turn out this way. But Ah certainly can’t complain!” “Well, I’m glad it turned out for the best.” Twilight still had a slight frown on her face. “I wasn’t exactly a fan of the methods they utilized. Or that they utilized them at all.” The farmpony shrugged. “It didn’t do any harm – those ponies knew what they were doin’!” “I suppose they did,” the unicorn replied grudgingly. “Like Ah’ve told ya, Twi,” Applejack said, smiling warmly as she caught a glance from her new marefriend from across the room. “When Pinkie’s tail’s a-twitchin’… you better listen.” Author's Note Thanks for sticking with me this far, everypony! I hope you enjoyed my silly little story (which I'm sure is far from perfect, but that's practice for you). Hit me up with suggestions, grammar corrections or just to say "Hi!"
Chapter OneIt was market day in Ponyville, a day similar to any other. The sun shone gaily down on the residents bustling about their business. As usual, a particular pink Ponyville party pony pranced peppily as she perused pecks of pumpkins, pies and paraphernalia present in the pragmatic populous of potential possessions. But, as she peeked at a pair of perky parsnips, a peculiar protest perturbed her person! Twitchy tail. Eye flutter. Knee wobble. Grumbly tummy. Pinkie Pie could barely contain her gasp of joy as she realized somepony was going to fall in love with somepony else! (The cause of her grumbly tummy seemed to be the delicious smells of market.) She twisted her head around impossibly to see where the feeling emanated from. The Apple Stand. Her eyes widened as she watched Applejack chat amiably with Fluttershy, who, it seemed to Pinkie, was blushing slightly as she trotted away from the stand. It was simply too adorable. There was no more time to waste! “Hiya, Fluttershy!” Pinkie bounded up to her friend. “Whatcha doin’?” “Oh! Hello, Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy smiled at her friend. “I was just getting some apples for Angel.” “Anything else?” Pinkie leaned in close, willing her friend to spill the beans. “Um… no?” Fluttershy began to shrink back from the scrutiny. “No sudden feelings of… LOVE… or anything?” She grinned wide with anticipation. “Um… I… don’t think so?” “Are you suuuuuure?” Pinkie’s nose almost brushed against Fluttershy’s. “No. I mean yes! I just….” The yellow pegasus leaned away from the huge blue eyes boring into her soul. She let out a small, soft, high-pitched squeal. Pinkie squinted suspiciously at her friend, then smiled brightly. “Okie dokie lokie!” Fluttershy blinked in confusion, only to realize the earth pony had vanished. She looked around to see where her friend had gone, but couldn’t find any of the correct shades of pink in the bustling crowd. “I was trying to say… no new or sudden feelings,” the pegasus whispered to herself. “Just old ones.” She looked back briefly at the orange earth pony and heaved a tiny sigh. From her new lookout point, Pinkie Pie was grinning impossibly wide. She lowered her binoculars – that she was perhaps two pony-lengths away from her quarry didn’t matter. She’d heard Fluttershy’s confession, and that meant that she could put her plan into action. First, however, she would need to talk to Applejack. She rubbed her forehooves together in anticipation, a determined smirk upon her muzzle. Pinkie Pie often let her enthusiasm run away with her, but she also couldn’t bear to be impolite to other ponies. So she waited patiently in line to speak with Applejack, a few bits in her saddlebags for a small apple purchase. She could hardly contain her excitement as the pony in front of her finished his purchase, and had to interrupt the pleasant – and slow – goodbyes being exchanged. “Hi Applejack!” She beamed as she dropped her bits onto the wooden surface of the stall, pushing a protesting stallion to the side. “It’s a love-ly day, isn’t it?” “Sure is, Pinkie! What can Ah do ya for?” “Just a few Galas today.” Pinkie watched closely as the farmpony gathered the apples and placed them on the counter. She glanced around, glad to see that no others ponies were behind her in line or loitering around the stall. Conspiratorially, she leaned toward her friend, her foreleg resting near the apples she’d just purchased. “Anythin’ else Ah can do for you t’day, Pinkie?” “Actually, yes.” The party pony leaned in close. “I got a tail twitch earlier—“ “Twitchy tail?” Applejack’s eyes went wide, and she scrambled to get underneath the awning of her stall. She looked fearfully up at the sky, a hoof clasped to her hat. Pinkie couldn’t suppress her giggle. “Not that kind of twitch, silly! It was a combo!” Applejack relaxed at her words, curiosity replacing the fear on her face. “So what kinda twitch was it, then? Do we need t’ go save Fluttershy again?” She looked frantically around for the pegasus, missing the satisfied smirk on her friend’s face. “No, no – it was a good twitch! I sensed that two ponies near your Apple Stand were going to fall in love!” Applejack froze, then turned her head slowly back to the pony next to her. Pinkie noted the tiny bead of sweat beginning to form on her brow, just beneath her golden mane. “Uh, Ah don’ s’pose that’d necessarily include me! Heh, since y’know, there have been plenty o’ other ponies over here t’day.” She smiled, but her eyes still held a trace of fear. “It probably does, silly filly!” Pinkie Pie beamed. “Now, you can make it easy on all of us and tell me which pony it is or you can make me do it the hard way.” “Ah don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout, Pinkie.” Applejack shook her head firmly. “Ah ain’t been fallin’ for nopony t’day.” “Okie dokie,” she sang, sweeping her apples unceremoniously into her saddlebag. “Have it your way!” She turned and began bouncing toward Sugar Cube Corner. “See you later, Jackie!” Applejack breathed a sigh of relief, shook her head once more, then frowned menacingly at the queue of ponies that had just formed. “If’n any of y’all try callin me ‘Jackie,’ you’re gonna find out jus’ how mah trees feel during Applebuck Season!” “So let me be perfectly clear,” Rarity was saying, a look of skepticism on her face. “You are asking me to help you meddle in the lives of two very dear friends of ours, without their knowledge or permission, solely for the purpose of making them fall in love?” “But they’re already in love with each other!” Pinkie objected with a smile. “They just don’t know it yet!” “So you said.” “Then… yes! That’s exactly what I’m asking!” “Pinkie Pie,” Rarity said, all seriousness. “As much as I am in favor of romance and affairs of the heart, it is the worst kind of faux pas to meddle in other ponies’ lives!” “Well….” Pinkie raised a hoof to her chin thoughtfully. “I guess I could always ask Twilight. Ooh! Or Rainbow Dash!” She giggled. “She is super close to Applejack, after all.” The fashionista let out an outraged gasp. “Pinkie! You cannot be serious! Rainbow Dash? Twilight?!” Her eyes widened as she realized she’d lost her point. She took a deep breath to compose herself. “Alright, you have forced my hoof. I will help you. But we must desist immediately if they ask it of us.” “Wahooo!!” The pink earth pony began bouncing around the small, chic table in Rarity’s dining area. “Just think how adorable it will all be! And all we need to do is get them to realize that they both love each other!” She couldn’t contain her giggles of delight. “I admit, they are practically perfect for one another,” Rarity mused. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she let out a rather un-ladylike squeal of excitement. “Oh! Just think of all the lovely matching outfits I could design for them! Their coloring works together so elegantly and their shared love of nature is perfect!” She dashed over to her work area, already beginning sketches. Pinkie watched in confusion. “Um, Rarity?” “…Yes, Pinkie?” “Shouldn’t we maybe get them to start dating first?” “Oh.” The sound of the creative process being shattered sounded much like disappointment. “Yes, of course. Did you have a plan?” “Do I!” Pinkie beamed. "It's a classic!" Rarity raised an eyebrow. "Go on, darling." “OK, first we have to go to them separately….”
Chapter TwoThe sun was descending toward the horizon, already showing signs of the gorgeous sunset to come. The oranges and yellows swirling together in the sky caused the pink pony watching to grin devilishly. “Excellent,” she muttered to herself – even her moustache quivered with anticipation. “This ship will be sailing shortly.” Pinkie was on her way to find Fluttershy. Her duty was to bring her to the restaurant Rarity had chosen for dinner. She couldn’t pronounce the name of the place, but Rarity had told her where it was in town and that she’d take care of the reservation. Apparently it was perfect. Originally, Pinkie was going to go get Applejack, but she was fairly sure that her fellow earth pony would be suspicious from their earlier conversation. The thought of the farmpony reminded her to remove her fake moustache before crossing the small bridge in front of Fluttershy’s cottage, and she did so with a reluctant sigh. She bounced up to the small red door, knocked excitedly, and was unable to stay still during the wait. When the timid pegasus opened the door, the pink mare pounced. “Fluttershy!” She grabbed her friend’s forehoof. “Do you wanna come to dinner?” “Um, well, I was just about to curl up and read a—” “But you have to come!” Pinkie Pie pleaded. “It’s just won’t be the same if you don’t go!” “Oh!" Fluttershy’s eyes had gone wide at the party pony’s desperation. “Well... in that case... I’d hate to make anypony upset.” “Good.” The pink mare beamed. “Come with me!” Fluttershy trotted after her friend. They’d made it past the bridge before she spoke up. “So, um… Pinkie Pie?” She fidgeted with a hoof. “Where exactly are we going to dinner? And who will be there? I don’t know if I can handle a large crowd of ponies tonight….” “Don’t you worry, Fluttershy!” Pinkie patted her friend’s mane. “It’s just a few of us – your best friends! You’ll love it!” “But…” Pinkie Pie’s face was deadly serious when she turned to face the pegasus again. “Seriously. Don’t make me try to say the name. It won’t be pretty.” “Aren’t you going to brush your mane?” Rarity asked, weariness in her voice. She’d spent the better part of 30 minutes convincing Applejack that she needn’t have every single meal with her family. “Ah never brush mah mane when Ah hang out with you gals. Why should t’night be any diff’rent?” The orange mare raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Ain’t like Ah’m goin’ on a date or anythin’.” Rarity tittered humorlessly. “Of course not.” “So Ah don’ see why it’s necessary.” “Well at least wash the dirt off your face and hooves.” The unicorn huffed. “Ah’m gonna be walkin’ through dirt t’ get there.” Applejack drawled. “Might as well do it when Ah get there.” “Fine.” Rarity was losing patience anyway. Let her ruin her own date night. “Shall we?” “Ah reckon so.” The pair trotted in silence for several minutes. Rarity had finished fuming and was wracking her brain for ways to help Applejack be presentable without making her upset. Her eyes glinted as she came up with a plan. When they were only a few minutes to the restaurant, Applejack spoke up. “Rarity, Ah can feel what you’re doin’.” “Whatever do you mean, Applejack?” Rarity feigned innocence. “I’m not doing a thing but taking you to the restaurant where we’re meeting everypony.” The farmpony gave her a look of weariness. “Oh, so mah mane an’ tail untangled an’ braided themselves, huh?” Rarity glared at her friend. “I’m just trying to help!” She ran a critical eye over her handiwork. “And, frankly, you look quite nice now.” Applejack simply rolled her eyes. “So where exac’ly are we goin’, anyhow?” “A lovely little place called ‘Le Fer à Cheval,’ which is just around this corner.” Rarity eyed the farmpony. “Do try to enjoy yourself.” The orange mare had gone still after hearing the name. She turned wide eyes to the unicorn beside her. “A fancy Prench restaurant? What in tarnation is goin’ on here, Rarity?” “Well,” the fashionista huffed. “Some ponies like to be civilised every so often.” Her eyes sparkled as she gazed upon the entrance. “Here we are!” Pinkie Pie was bouncing near the door, giggling at the fancy hosts and the serious looks on the servers’ faces. Next to her, Fluttershy looked quite like she’d collapse in on herself if made to walk another step with the outrageous pink party planner. The pegasus’ face lit up when she saw her other two friends approaching. “Oh, thank goodness you came,” she breathed. “We were worried that nopony else would show up.” “Very good,” the host interrupted. “Mademoiselle Rarity, party of two?” “Party of two?” Applejack echoed bemusedly. “Oh dear, the reservations must have gotten confused.” Rarity waved a hoof dismissively. “You two go on and enjoy yourselves. Pinkie and I must start preparations for the party later, anyway.” “P-party?” Fluttershy gasped. “Yup!” Pinkie replied. “You have to come over to Sugar Cube Corner afterwards!” Applejack surveyed the two grinning ponies in front of her with narrowed eyes full of skepticism. “Uh-huh.” “Excusez-moi, mademoiselles, but the table?” The host gestured toward a small table near some panoramic windows, which featured a breath-taking view of the now setting sun. “Shame t’ waste a table on a misunderstandin’.” The farmpony looked over at Fluttershy and shrugged. “Ah guess it’s jus’ you an’ me, sugarcube.” Fluttershy glanced at her other two friends. “I-if you’re sure. I mean, somepony can have my spot….” “Don’t be silly, Fluttershy!” Pinkie crowed. “You go have fun!” The farmpony and the pegasus cast doubtful looks at their friends before turning and walking over to their table. Before the host could follow with the menus, Rarity waved him over briefly. “Send the tab to me, Théo.” She said briskly, smiling her thanks. “As you wish, mon amie.” He bowed his head and swiftly made his way over to the table. Rarity and Pinkie Pie trotted away from the restaurant. They made it a couple buildings down before excitedly congratulating themselves. “We did it!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “Now they’ll have to tell each other that they’re in love and then we can celebrate it when they come to the party later!” “Indeed, Pinkie.” Rarity smiled at her friend. “I think we have done well. This restaurant is perfect—” A light blue blur flashed by, and a strong wind pulled at the two conversing ponies. A resounding crash nearby confirmed Rainbow Dash’s presence. “Hey guys!” The pegasus’ greeting floated up from a shallow groove in the ground. “Dashie!” Pinkie bounced over to the mass of rainbow-colored mane and tangled blue limbs. “Do you wanna help us set up a party?” “A party?” Rainbow queried, shaking the dirt out of her mane. “For what?” “Applejack and Fluttershy falling in love, of course!” Pinkie’s grin deepened. The blue pegasus raised an eyebrow, her smile fading. “What?” “We just got them to a fancy dinner together and, with any luck, they shall share their feelings with one another and end up happily together.” Rarity nearly swooned with the romance of it all. “Wait. You took Applejack to a fancy restaurant?” She glanced at the sign a few buildings down, her eyebrows rocketing up at the sight. “A fancy Prench restaurant?” “Why… yes!” Rarity cocked her head. “Did you fall too hard this time?” “Ooh! Dashie! How many hooves am I holding up?” Pinkie bounced around, flailing her forehooves in the air. Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes before fixing Rarity with a scowl. “You know she hates that stuff, right?” “Nopony hates—” Rarity began with an impatient sigh. “No,” the pegasus interjected. “She hates it.” She rubbed a forehoof against her forehead. “Why exactly are you doing this, anyway?” “Ooh, ooh, I know!” Pinkie stopped flailing and came to a stop in front of her friends. “I got a love combo at market today! And it was totally those two who set it off!” “I see.” Rainbow Dash sighed deeply. “So who’s gonna keep watch to make sure Applejack doesn’t bail?” The two co-conspirators looked at one another thoughtfully. Simultaneously, they both turned their gaze to the pegasus, still lying on the ground at their hooves. They grinned. Rainbow Dash was nonplussed. “Aaaand this is how I get myself roped into these kinds of things.” "We appreciate your help ever so much, darling." Rarity smiled dazzlingly as she gave her friend's multi-colored mane a soft pat. "Why am I so bucking loyal?" the pegasus hissed under her breath, watching her friends trot away merrily. "See you at the partyyyyy!" Pinkie Pie called back to her cheerily.
Chapter ThreeApplejack felt like she must have entered a sauna with all the difficulty she was having breathing inside the restaurant. She sat herself as inconspicuously as possible at the elegantly furnished table. The linens themselves must’ve cost at least as much as the plow at the farm, and the china? She didn’t want to think about it. She smiled nervously over at Fluttershy, who briefly made eye contact over the menu she was holding. The farmpony looked down at her own menu. It may as well have been written in gibberish – she couldn’t understand any of it. She cursed Rarity for bringing her here. Her brow knit into a small frown. That mare had definitely been up to something, even if she couldn’t put her hoof on it. At least she was here with Fluttershy…. Just thinking the name of the pegasus across from her made her stomach do flips. This whole thing couldn’t be because of that chat with Pinkie Pie at market this morning, could it? The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She shook her head in consternation. There was no way Fluttershy could ever return her feelings. As she was also out of her realm of expertise – consarned fancy dining – she resolved to stay silent on the matter and just survive through dinner. Maybe her openness to trying new things would be endearing to her dinner partner. “Sure is a nice sunset t’night,” she offered in an effort to leave her troubling thoughts behind. “Oh, isn’t it lovely?” Fluttershy was glowing, and not just from the sun. She seemed to thrive in this environment, Applejack’s dejection deepening with the realization. “I’ve never eaten here, but it’s just so… nice.” “That it is.” Applejack laughed nervously, her eyes scanning the page for some words that made sense – anything in Modern Equestrian instead of Prench. “Are you ladies ready to order?” Applejack jumped at the sound of the waiter’s voice. “I am,” Fluttershy said quietly, looking expectantly at her friend. “Shoot, sugarcube.” The pegasus cleared her throat delicately. “I’ll have the Niçoise Salad to start, and then the Parsnip Remoulade, s’il vous plait.” “Your Prench is impeccable, mademoiselle,” the waiter said reverently. “And for you?” He glanced at Applejack, barely concealing his sneer. “Ah, uh… Ah’ll have what she’s havin’,” she said weakly, wondering why she’d ever thought dining out would be a reasonable idea. “Very well.” He sniffed. “Is there anything else I can get for you while you wait?” “Non, merci,” Fluttershy said demurely. The waiter nodded to the pegasus and left the table, eyeing Applejack once more. The farmpony heaved a sigh of relief once he’d left. So far, so good. After all, there was a very slim chance of this dinner being anything like that one time with Pa…. She shook her head slightly to rid herself of the unhappy thought and quash her skittishness, then focused her attention on the beautiful mare looking at her inquisitively. Fluttershy was watching Applejack while they’d ordered and continued to do so as they waited for their food. The silence was not awkward – not for two ponies who enjoyed its solitude as much as they. She was disquieted, however, by the nervousness displayed by her friend. She had never seen the strong, confident earth pony so out of sorts. The orange mare was looking around frantically, as if there was an escape route just out of sight, and her hooves were constantly moving – to adjust her hat, then tap the table, then rearrange her plate, and so on. Fluttershy hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable by speaking Prench. The pegasus wracked her brain for ways to help Applejack feel more at ease. Perhaps conversation was warranted, especially considering the circumstances. Pinkie had been acting rather odd…. “So, um, Applejack?” “Yeah, sugarcube?” Fluttershy barely contained a happy sigh as she felt warmth spread through her at the endearment, even though she knew the farmpony used it all the time for everypony. She just liked to imagine that she was… special. “Um,” she began, trying to hide the beginnings of a blush. “Did it seem odd to you – the way Pinkie and Rarity were acting?” Applejack snorted, not noticing the glares from other patrons of the restaurant. “’Course it did.” “I wonder why they brought us here,” Fluttershy mused. “It’s like they planned it so we’d have to have dinner here together.” She looked up to see a small flush on the farmpony’s cheeks at her comment, but didn’t dare ask about the cause. “Well mah best guess it that it had t’ do with a conversation Ah had with Pinkie at market t’day.” Her cheeks became a deeper shade of pink. “Oh?” Fluttershy inquired. “Come to think of it, Pinkie talked to me this morning, too.” She frowned slightly. “She was just asking about whether I’d had sudden feelings of love….” “Was she now?” Applejack looked thoughtful. “She told me her tail’d been a-twitchin’ and a couple o’ ponies were gonna fall in love with each other. Then she got all mad at me for not tellin’ her who Ah’d fallen for.” She shook her head in amusement, finally smiling fully. Fluttershy’s interest was piqued. She could finally find out whether Applejack might possibly even consider…. The pegasus took a deep breath to prepare herself. “And did you? F-fall in love with anypony today, I mean.” she managed to squeak out. The farmpony blushed. “Honestly? No.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Ah jus’ realized Ah keep fallin’ deeper an’ harder for a pony Ah’ve been sweet on for quite some time. Happens every single time Ah talk t’ her.” Her heart soared to hear the pronoun at the end of Applejack’s confession. And she’d talked with her earlier today, too! “Excuse me, ladies,” a sophisticated looking stallion interrupted them. “I’m from table four, and I came over to ask you to kindly cease this uncouth behaviour.” “Um, ‘uncouth behaviour?’” Fluttershy asked. “Oh, not you, madam,” he simpered. His eyes turned to bore into Applejack. “Talk of falling in love with other mares? Snorting so loudly that everypony can hear you? That appalling accent? Were you raised in a barn?” His steely grey eyes darted up to her cowpony hat and trailed down the braid Fluttershy had seen her wear only once before. “Ah. Apparently so,” he sniffed. The farmpony had sunk so low in her seat that her chin nearly rested upon the table. Her entire face had become as red as the apples on her flank, and tears stood out in her beautiful green eyes. “Um, sir?” Fluttershy felt a sort of rage building up inside of her at the sight of her friend’s distress. “If you have a problem with any of that, I’m afraid you’ll have to take it up with me, too. This pony happens to be a very dear friend of mine and what kind of ponies she does or does not like does not concern you. The farm she works on provides nearly all of the produce for that dinner you’re eating, as well! If you don’t like the way she acts, you’re free to leave this establishment and I will not stand by and watch you demean her!” The pegasus suddenly noticed her voice had gotten louder and louder, and that she was now breathing heavily. She stood belligerently, her hooves spread in a wide stance and a fierce glare upon her face. In addition, everypony in the restaurant was now looking at her. She calmed herself with a couple deep breaths. “Now, please leave our table and go ruin your own dinner.” The stallion, now speechless and taken quite aback, nodded dumbly and trotted back to his seat with eyes wide as the goodly-sized torte waiting next to a mare who must’ve been his wife. Fluttershy smiled to herself in satisfaction and sat back down in her chair, keeping an eye on the rude stallion to make sure he kept his distance. “So, what were you just saying, Applejack?” Her ear twitched when the expected response did not come. “Applejack?” She turned to look at her friend, then gasped quietly. The chair across the table was empty.
Chapter FourApplejack had slipped out of that stifling restaurant as soon as Fluttershy had turned her attention to that snobby stallion. She’d trotted as quickly and quietly as possible, feeling more and more unworthy of the pegasus’ attention than ever as she listened to her tirade. She hung around the door nonetheless, loathe to leave her friend behind. “Stupid, stupid, stupid…” she muttered under her breath. Her hooves hit the ground with extra force as she paced around in the empty road, nervously eyeing the entrance to the restaurant. “Hey, Applejack,” a familiar voice sounded from behind her. “Didn’t think I’d ever see you run from something so easily.” The farmpony snorted as she turned to face the pegasus looking at her with a challenge in her eyes. “Oh really?” she drawled. “An’ what exac’ly is it Ah’m runnin’ from?” “You know as well as I do what it is.” Rainbow Dash gave her a flat look. “You’ve had a crush on Fluttershy for pretty much forever.” Applejack glared at her friend. “Yeah, an’ what of it?” “What, you’re just gonna leave her in there?” Rainbow pointed a hoof toward the table where the lone pegasus was seated, looking glumly out the window. “All alone?” The orange mare felt a rush of guilt as she looked upon the silhouette of her dinner partner, framed perfectly by clouds colored by the setting sun. She felt each beat of her heart more keenly than ever before. “Ah don’ know how Ah can go back after that display,” she whispered. “Now everypony must think Ah’m jus’ a cowardly, simple farmer.” “Since when do you care what anypony else thinks?” The pegasus next to her snorted in derision and continued with a smirk, “You’re nearly as tough, brave and loyal as I am!” Applejack’s ears folded back, her features displaying an emotion caught somewhere between sorrow and anger. When she replied, her voice grated like a plow through a rocky field. “Why’re you even here?” Rainbow Dash smiled as innocently as a filly with a hoof in the cookie jar. She gave a strangled laugh. “Just gotta make sure everypony’s remembering to be loyal to everypony else…” The farmpony eyed her friend, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. “You really think that’s gonna fool th’ Element of Honesty?” “Fine.” The blue pegasus crossed her forelegs in front of her chest. “I’m here to make sure you don’t bail on Fluttershy ‘cause I know how much you hate going to places like this.” She waved a hoof at the ornate sign. Applejack regarded her friend silently for a moment. “So you’re in cahoots with Rarity an’ Pinkie Pie? Tryin’ t’ get me ‘n Fluttershy t’ be the next new, happy couple?” “Well… I don’t know about that.” Rainbow fidgeted with a hoof. “I just don’t think she deserves to be bailed on by her date!” “Uh-huh,” the farmpony uttered for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. “An’ did anypony stop t’ think that she deserves way better?” “What are you—” “She loves this place, Rainbow!” Applejack gestured angrily toward the door. “She speaks Prench better’n the ambassador of Prance, an’ is right at home in there!” She steadied herself with a breath. “An’ Ah… Ah’m jus’ a simple pony who cain’t touch that tablecloth without feelin’ like Ah’m destroyin’ it.” She hung her head. “So… what?” Rainbow Dash didn’t sound convinced. “You’re just going to give up?” She scratched her head with a hoof. “What did you do with my best friend?” Applejack sighed. “Nothin’. But Ah still don’t know how Ah can go back in there.” The blue mare made a strangled sound of frustration and threw her forehooves into the air. “I’ll tell you how.” She shoved her friend toward the door. “You put one hoof in front of the other! You heard her defending you just as well as I did. Obviously she thinks you’re great.” She grunted as she met with stubborn earth pony resistance, then gasped in exasperation. “She doesn’t do that for just anypony, you know!” The farmpony stood stock still, then turned wide eyes toward her friend. “You really think Ah have a chance with her?” “Not if you don’t get in there!” Rainbow rolled her eyes, then smiled triumphantly as the orange mare trotted back inside with a look of determination. Fluttershy sighed quietly. It had been a good while since Applejack had disappeared, and she was currently fretting about how awful her friend must feel after that mean stallion had come over here! She gazed out the window, hoping that the farmpony wasn’t too upset. Her ear swiveled at the small scratching sound of a chair being pulled back from the table and turned to see Applejack re-seating herself across the table. Try as she might, Fluttershy just couldn’t keep the smile from her muzzle at the sight. “Heh, sorry sugarcube,” the farmpony muttered. “Jus’ had t’ get mahself a breath of fresh air.” “Oh, not at all!” She looked over to size up the level of her friend’s distress. “I was worried that rude stallion made you leave completely!” Applejack’s face flushed red once more. “T’ be honest, Ah almost did. And… it wasn’t jus’ him.” She raised her eyes to meet Fluttershy’s. “But Ah couldn’t bring mahself t’ leave you here all on your own” The pegasus frowned with concern. “Um… if you don’t mind me asking, what else made you want to leave?” The apple farmer sighed quietly, her eyes focused now on the fancy water glasses in the middle of the table. Her voice was soft and rough when she finally spoke. “A while back, when mah Ma an’ Pa were still here, we used t’ go out an’ eat at restaurants ev’ry blue moon or so.” She ran a hoof over the elegant tablecloth. “Ah remember clear as day th’ las’ time Ah ever ate out with mah Pa. It was jus’ th’ two of us – Ma had jus’ gone back t’ Manehattan, never t’ return. We were at a restaurant nearly as fancy as this one.” “What happened?” Fluttershy asked, wide-eyed. Applejack gave her a weak smile. “Ah didn’t know mah Pa had started drinkin’ early in th’ day. He started talkin’ a mite too loud an’ a mite too crass. Another customer complained an’ we got kicked out afore we could eat anythin’.” Her green eyes were now wavering with emotion. “Ah’ll never forget what that pony said t’ me an’ Pa – how we didn’t deserve t’ eat their fancy food, how Ah’d never grow up t’ be anypony special, an’ how Ah’d end up jus’ as useless as he did.” She looked back down at the tablecloth. “Ah ain’t been to a place like this since then.” Fluttershy’s hooves had risen to her muzzle in disbelief, her eyes even wider than before. “B-but… you’re the best pony in Equestria!” “Ah’ve been workin’ awful hard t’ prove that pony wrong, that’s for sure.” The farmpony chuckled quietly. “Goin’ t’ Manehattan for mah Cutie Mark was a part o’ that, but Ah’m sure you noticed that didn’t work too well.” The yellow pegasus frowned and shook her head. “Applejack, you don’t need to measure up to other ponies’ expectations to be special – at least, that’s what my mother always told me.” She looked up, her eyes half-hidden behind her mane, her cheeks turning pink. “I think you’re very special.” “A-hem.” Their server cleared his throat for their attention. Once their eyes were trained sheepishly upon him, he gestured to the tray of food beside him. “Your dinner, mademoiselles,” he said tonelessly.
Chapter Five“So you really liked it?” “’S not like Ah eat apples an’ nothin’ but apples,” Applejack quipped with a wink. “Oh, of course, I just… wanted to make sure.” Fluttershy blushed slightly. The farmpony chuckled softly in response as they walked slowly out the door of the restaurant. It had been a nice surprise that they’d not had to pay for their food, courtesy of the waiter. She felt more at ease than she ever would have imagined following such a dinner. “Applejack?” “Yeah, sugarcube?” “Um… should we go to Sugar Cube Corner now?” Fluttershy looked nervously down the path that would take them to said bakery. “Pinkie seemed so insistent….” The orange mare thought for a moment, a hoof tapping her muzzle. Suddenly, a mischievous idea took root in her mind. She eyed her friend, a slow smirk spreading across her face and a glint in her eyes. “Ah reckon,” she drawled slowly. “That this is our date night, an’ we can do whatever we want t’ do.” “Our… d-d-date night?” Fluttershy gasped in astonishment, her wings spreading open to point at the first few stars gracing Princess Luna’s night. “Well… yeah!” Applejack looked over at her friend as she began trotting in a different direction from the bakery, their friends, and the party. The pegasus followed her without question, likely overloaded from shock at the d-word. “B-but, um… it… wasn’t really a date.” “Don’cha think that’s what Rarity an’ Pinkie were tryin’ t’ do?” The farmpony nearly lost her footing as she realized she couldn’t stop the next words from escaping her mouth. “An’ Ah reckon Ah ain’t had a nicer date than this’n.” Her friend turned to her with wide eyes. “Really?” she breathed. “Darn tootin’!” She blushed suddenly and glanced to the side. “’Course, Ah ain’t ever been on a date in the firs’ place so, might be that ain’t such high praise after all.” “Oh, I’ve never been on a date either.” Fluttershy smiled shyly. “And I think it was just… lovely.” “No kiddin’?” Applejack raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Shucks, Ah’d’ve thought plenty o’ stallions an’ mares alike woulda asked you by now.” “Well,” the pegasus’ blush deepened. “They’ve asked….” “Jus’ not your type, huh?” The farmpony nodded knowingly. “Oh, they were all nice ponies,” she protested. “I just… I’ve had a crush on a certain pony for so long now, and I just couldn’t do that to a pony I didn’t really feel something for….” “Same here,” Applejack affirmed. She then frowned. Maybe Pinkie had been onto something. There was only one way to find out. She braced herself and took a deep breath. “Fluttershy?” “Yes?” Those gorgeous eyes locked onto hers, shimmering in the leftover rays of the sun now resting just below the horizon. “Follow me.” She turned away abruptly and began galloping toward her destination at a pace she imagined her friend would be able to keep. A surprised Fluttershy quickly charged down the path after her. On a nearby rooftop, a blue pegasus stretched and gave a huge yawn. Her magenta eyes opened blearily as she recalled her task, ears twitching at the sound of rapid hoofbeats. Her gaze locked onto the two ponies fleeing the scene and she immediately sprung to her hooves. “Oh, ponyfeathers,” she cursed under her breath. Twilight Sparkle surveyed two of her very close friends with skepticism. The all-too-innocent smiles on their faces didn’t sit well with her, and her wings rustled against her back in irritation. “You did what?” she said flatly. Raising her voice was not yet required, nor was it truly necessary. They knew very well how she felt about the matter, even in the scant minutes since she’d arrived at the hastily prepared “party.” “Come now, Twilight,” Rarity simpered. “It’s not as if it will cause any harm.” “Also!” Pinkie Pie butted in, her face mere centimeters from the purple unicorn’s. “They’re already in love!” “Pinkie, you know I believe in your Pinkie Sense,” Twilight began, stepping back from the too-wide smile of her friend and forcing herself not to roll her eyes. “But for something as nebulous and unpredictable as love? This just feels like meddling.” Pinkie made a stricken, offended noise. “Of course my Pinkie Sense can sense love!” She frowned in disapproval. “Tsk, tsk, Twillight – I thought I taught you better!” “This is hardly meddling, Twilight,” Rarity sniffed haughtily. “I mean, it’s not as if we’re spying on them to make sure everything goes as planned—” Suddenly, the front door slammed open, revealing a stricken Rainbow Dash. The pegasus paid the door no heed as it swung back and forth from the blow, and landed quickly and neatly in front of her friends. “Rarity,” she gave the unicorn a mildly panicked look. “We have a problem.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Not spying, huh?” The white mare at least had the decency to blush as she began questioning Rainbow Dash. “Please,” Fluttershy wheezed as they started up a large hill somewhere on Sweet Apple Acres. “Are we… almost there? Or could we… just… trot?” Applejack responded by slowing her pace to a walk and giving her friend a gentle smile. “Sorry, sugarcube. Ah do tend t’ forget that Ah run faster’n most ponies.” She gave the pegasus a reassuring nudge with a shoulder as they crested the hill. “An’, yes. We’re here.” “Oh… good!” Fluttershy gasped, flopping unceremoniously – and yet extraordinarily gracefully – onto the lush, green grass. The pegasus heard a light chuckle from the pony behind her, which warmed her entire being for the second time that night. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of the grass and the very slight, cool breeze from the northwest. Though she would never say so to anypony, this was far better than any party Pinkie could throw in her honor. Applejack’s words from earlier echoed through her head. Don’cha think that’s what Rarity an’ Pinkie were tryin’ t’ do? Unbidden, her memory brought forth all the shared moments, the meaningful looks, the comfort and safety that radiated from the farm mare that she’d always sought out. A rustle of grass off to her left distracted her, and she opened her eyes reluctantly. “This here’s the best hill on the Acres t’ watch th’ stars come out,” Applejack said softly, lowering herself onto the grass next to her friend. “Ah figured we could watch th’ first couple hundred or so, then mosey on over t’ Sugar Cube Corner so we don’ disappoint Pinkie too much.” She winked conspiratorially. “A bit o’ quiet time between events never hurt anypony.” Fluttershy could hardly breathe. It was as if the farmpony had known, somehow, that she’d needed extra time before the party. “Applejack,” she breathed. “It’s so nice… and so… perfect.” She let out a contented sigh. Without thinking, she slid a bit closer to her friend and gently rested her head on the strong shoulder situated at the perfect height. Every thought had so completely vanished from her mind, she wasn’t even embarrassed to whisper to her friend: “I love you.”
Chapter SixThe ringing in her ears had yet to disappear, as had the dizzy, lightheaded feeling Applejack had experienced when Fluttershy whispered those three words into the fur of her shoulder. She shook her head slightly in an attempt to regain her senses. Sure, she had guessed her friend might feel this way about her… but hadn’t been able to convince herself fully. Perhaps too soon, she attempted to respond with words. “Uh… Ah, uh…” Her ear twitched nervously. “You did just say… uh… what Ah thought you did?” “Hmmm?” The pegasus lifted her head slightly, her eyes halfway closed, and a serene look on her face. As the earth pony’s gaze met her friend’s, the dizziness and ringing faded away – though her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest. In those gorgeous, shimmering eyes, she could see trust, respect and, yes, the love she had just professed. Applejack took a deep breath to steady herself. “Ah love you too, sugarcube,” she breathed, nuzzling her friend gently. She felt the pegasus freeze as she flinched away slightly, eyes wide. Fluttershy’s breathing had become erratic, and a hoof had flown to her mouth in surprise. “I… d-did I… say that out loud?” she squeaked. The farmpony let out a quiet chuckle as she felt herself relax, a languid smile spreading across her muzzle. “That you did, sugarcube.” She nudged her friend playfully. “An’ don’t try t’ tell me you didn’t mean it, neither. Can’t fool this Element o’ Harmony!” “B-but… you… aren’t mad?” she queried in wonder. Her reply was a snort accompanied by the squeeze of a foreleg around the pegasus’ middle. “’Course Ah ain’t mad!” Applejack removed her leg from Fluttershy’s back, considerately trying to avoid mussing her wings. “Ah gotta be honest with you, sugarcube. Ah took a likin’ t’ you way back when we were trekkin’ up that mountain t’ get that dragon t’ stop snorin’ smoke everyplace.” The pegasus’ hoof had made its way back to the ground, and her face had morphed from an expression of terror and shock to one of astonished disbelief. “Oh my goodness,” she murmured, a very sight frown on her face. “That was ages ago!” “Yeah…” The farmpony scratched the back of her neck bashfully. “Guess Ah never felt quite right about comin’ out with it – ‘specially if you liked stallions or somethin’. Never thought you’d feel th’ same way ‘bout boring ol’ AJ.” “Boring?” Fluttershy’s frown was very nearly a scowl – the cutest scowl the farmpony had ever seen, but a scowl nonetheless. A yellow hoof touched her face, gently guiding it so that she was looking at her friend instead of the ground. “Applejack, you are the bravest, strongest, and most heroic pony in all of Equestria!” She dropped her hoof from where it had been supporting Applejack’s jaw. “I mean, I’ve seen every single Element of Harmony in your words and actions! You… you’re… amazing,” she finished with a sigh. “Shucks, sugarcube.” The orange mare was now blushing furiously. “Ah’m plumb speechless now.” Fluttershy smiled up at her friend, drew her face close and murmured, “Then don’t talk.” She then delivered the softest, sweetest kiss Applejack imagined anypony anywhere had ever experienced. Through the searing, happy blaze that consumed her entire being, the farmpony felt herself smile. “Talking ain’t ever been so overrated,” she heard herself say hoarsely before kissing the beautiful pegasus again. “I see them!” Rainbow called from a few groves ahead of the rest of the group. “Follow me!” “Why are we sneaking up on them?” Twilight grumbled breathlessly, trying her best to keep up with the energetic athlete, a sugar-high ball of pink fur and the fashionista spurred on by the sheer romantic possibilities. It seemed nopony had heard her, because the mad dash to find the missing Elements continued. Until she ran face-first into Rarity’s flank. “Ugh!” the purple unicorn huffed. “What now?” Her jaw dropped as her eyes took in the two missing ponies, obliviously enjoying much more than just each other’s company, against a navy backdrop with ever-increasing numbers of winking stars. The princess felt a vibration next to her, which jolted her senses just in time to cast a spell. Rarity’s smirk dimmed only very slightly as she watched Pinkie Pie, encased in a sound-proof magenta sphere, jumping, twirling, pointing, and seemingly shouting with joy at the top of her lungs. “You’re quite efficient with those spells of yours, darling,” she mused to her friend, with a quick glance at the happy couple a half dozen metres away. “Which is likely for the best.” “I can’t believe this actually worked,” Rainbow muttered, just loudly enough for the others to hear. “Tut tut, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said with a flip of her mane. “Did you truly doubt the expertise of Pinkie’s tail and myself?” The blue pegasus rolled her eyes. “Yeah… let’s remember who kept Applejack from bailing from that prissy restaurant in the first place.” The white unicorn made an offended noise, but chose not to respond. “Um, girls?” Twilight interjected, eyes widening by the minute. “Do you suppose we should maybe give them some space?” The two bickering ponies looked up and, upon glancing over, immediately agreed and began trotting quietly and quickly away from the scene. Pinkie Pie bounced around Sugar Cube Corner, surveying the state of the party she’d prepared to honor the extra adorable new love of Applejack and Fluttershy. She glanced happily at the colorful banner she’d hung above the food and beverage table that read “WE LOVE YOU AND YOUR LOVE, APPLESHY!” The two guests of honor had eventually shown up, as they’d learned was their plan from the start. Surprisingly, they were completely unsurprised at the subject of the party. Pinkie shrugged as she approached Rainbow Dash with a cup of punch. “Want a drink, Dashie?” “Sure, Pinks,” the pegasus said with a smile. “But I think I might have to hit the hay soon. Big day of busting clouds tomorrow.” “Aww, well thanks for helping us today!” Pinkie smiled as she turned to observe the rest of her friends. Rarity and Fluttershy were quietly conversing at a table together, drinks near at hoof. The pegasus seemed to be blushing profusely – likely because Rarity wanted to hear every single detail of her evening. Pinkie giggled as she imagined what it must sound like. She looked around for her other two guests, who were talking about less in-depth matters at hoof. The party pony trotted inconspicuously closer, just so that she might hear their words. “…wasn’t too much?” Twillight was asking. “Nah,” Applejack replied. “Ah mean, Ah wasn’t exac’ly expectin’ mah evenin’ t’ turn out this way. But Ah certainly can’t complain!” “Well, I’m glad it turned out for the best.” Twilight still had a slight frown on her face. “I wasn’t exactly a fan of the methods they utilized. Or that they utilized them at all.” The farmpony shrugged. “It didn’t do any harm – those ponies knew what they were doin’!” “I suppose they did,” the unicorn replied grudgingly. “Like Ah’ve told ya, Twi,” Applejack said, smiling warmly as she caught a glance from her new marefriend from across the room. “When Pinkie’s tail’s a-twitchin’… you better listen.” Author's Note Thanks for sticking with me this far, everypony! I hope you enjoyed my silly little story (which I'm sure is far from perfect, but that's practice for you). Hit me up with suggestions, grammar corrections or just to say "Hi!"
